The Mad Genealogist

My winter trip brought me to Cherokee County where my Bedwell ancestors first setup shop around 1836. I had interviewed Uncle June before (but as I stated before you alway interview again and again) and I did so again. This time a fresh memory came up. He remembered where the home place of my great grandfather William Lee Bedwell (1869-1946) was located. So we loaded up in our cars and drove to a area called mountain Springs. (See the Family of William Lee Bedwell)

Mountain Springs is a beautiful area situated midway between Centre and Peidmont, Alabama along Highway 9. Most of the roads are still the same as they were 100 years ago (albeit paved now) so Uncle June had no trouble locating the old home stead. As we got out he became quiet for a moment as memories came rushing back. Then the stories started and I will related them as a shortened version.

GG William Bedwell built his home out of virgin pine. He built it so well that even after he died there was not a rotten board on the house. The home sat about 20 feet off the road and there was a well (now filled in) next to the road where many a traveler could stop by and get a cool refreshing drink. A dogtrot ran down the middle of the house. Across the road sat the barn and stables and beyond that was the fields. My Grandfather Claude Bedwell lived up the road so Uncle June (being the oldest boy) spent a lot of time with gg Bedwell. He described him best this way:

William Bedwell always wore overalls and sported a handlebar mustache. He was deathly afraid of any reptile. He loved to play checkers and always had a game ready to go for anyone who came to visit. He alway was happy and loved to joke around.

Uncle June related many stories to me but a few stand out. One day in the fields Unlcl June and gg Bedwell were clearing ground for a new field. As the work was toiling forward gg Bedwell suddenly stopped and stood bolt upright clutching his overall a little above his left knee and then clutched the seat of his overalls with his other hand. “Junebug” he said in a low scared voice. “Yes grandpa” Uncle June replied. Gg Bedwell said “Get your pocket knife and come over here”. So Uncle June did as he was told. ” Cut these britches around my hands” He said. As Uncle June cut two holes in the overalls where gg Bedwells hands were, gg Bedwell pulled the first hand away and threw the piece of overall as far as he could. Uncle June saw a small lizard come tumbling out of the small fabric. When he was finished with cutting around his other hand in the seat of the overall, gg Bedwell threw it in the other direction revealing a freshly laid turd. That ended field clearing for the day. What had happened was that a lizard had crawled up gg Bedwells pant leg and it terrified him so much that he soiled himself in the process.

Another story was that when Uncle June was around 16 or 17 he saw a car for sale in town for $500. Of course he nor his father Claude had that kind of money but gg Bedwell had some. So he got on his bike and pedaled over to gg Bedwells house. He asked gg Bedwell if he could borrow the money. gg Bedwell thought a few minutes and went inside. A few moments later he came out with 5 $100 dollar bills. He gave him the money on the condition that whenever the church had a singing going on that he drive him to it.

So after that gg Bedwell got sick with stomach cancer a died shortly there after. I will post on some more intriguing stories next post……